James D. Hague 



he got it. He might tell you. His 

 name is Benguiat. He is a dealer in 

 rugs, very expensive ones, and he 

 buys all sorts of curiosities and has a 

 large collection, worth many thou- 

 sands of dollars. Here is his address. 

 You better see him." 



This seemed to confirm the sus- 

 picion that some person had taken 

 the basin from Cutter's lodging after 

 his departure, and sold it to a known 

 buyer of curiosities. 



Next day I called at the establish- 

 ment of the Benguiats, Hadji Eph- 

 raim and Mordecai, father and son, 

 dealers in rugs, curios and antiques, 

 belonging to a family of famous col- 

 lectors well known not only at San 

 Francisco but in New York, Lon- 

 don, Paris and the Orient. I found 

 Mordecai, the son, alone, who also 

 smiled when I mentioned my errand. 

 He said, " I can tell you all about 

 the barber's basin I sold to Joe Stern 

 109 



